3 Tasting Notes
7 grams @ 160F for 1:00
lid aroma: vague sweetness with something slightly roasty
wet leaves smell of apricot, very fragrant
liquor is fairly insipid.
aftertaste: apricot
@165F for 2:00
lid aroma: hint of cocoa
wet leaves: slight stone fruit and stewed vegetables
liquor remains relatively flavor-free…
aftertaste: celery, apricot
@170F for 3:00
lid aroma: more cocoa
wet leaves: strong apricots and stewed vegetables
liquor: not much more than astringency
The wet leaves throughout smelled truly lovely, and it’s a pity none of that translated to flavor in the liquor. Had to crank it hard to get anything out of it, and still it was much more about aromas than flavor. Which reminds me, the brewing method suggested on the label is absurd and will produce only hot water.
All in all, seems like it would be fine for someone who loves a delicate tea, but I wouldn’t buy this again.
Flavors: Apricot, Cocoa, Spinach
Preparation
May I ask what you are using for water? We sell a ton of this tea both online and wholesale to coffeehouses/restaurants. Do you know if this was the 2017 or 2018? -Grateful, Garret
Hi Garret, this is 2018 per the label on the bag. I have municipal water that comes from an aquifer and is very hard, but that hasn’t been an issue in brewing other teas. Is this one particularly sensitive to water?
2017 tea, brewed in May 2018.
1st infusion at 1:00
STRONG honey scent immediately on taking the lid off the gaiwan, that vanished quickly.
Pleasant taste, mouthfeel. Very mellow. A bit of astringency in the background. A touch of sweetness. I like it.
Faint ghost of white grape juice and dryness as an aftertaste.
for 1:30
Very slight tobacco aroma on the lid. Liquor itself smells faintly of honey.
A bit more astringency, a bit less sweetness. Juicy. Something almost like cigarette ash? But not unpleasant.
for 2:00
Not much difference at all from 1:30. Just a little more astringency and less of everything else. Seems like that’s all I’m going to get out of this one.
Flavors: Honey, White Grapes
